PHOENIX — When Corey Dickerson starts a game, he plays center field — and Charlie Blackmon gets bumped over to right.

Every time that happens, I get fans (or maybe it’s just fantasy baseball dudes) asking me why manager Walt Weiss moves Blackmon to right. Weiss’s answer (as you can see in the video) is simple: Dickerson plays in center, but not right; Blackmon thrives at both positions.

Actually, Dickerson made one start in right last season and a handful in left, but most of his starts have come in center. He has a comfort level there, and Weiss agrees that it makes the most sense to put a part-time player in the place he where he can have the best chance of success. In Dickerson’s case, that is center field. And Weiss wants to get his bat into the lineup as often as he can.

Carlos Gonzalez says he’s not worried about a slump that has dropped his average to .247. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

LOS ANGELES — There’s no mistaken the sound of a Carlos Gonzalez home run. The crack of the bat is more like an explosion, resulting in the ball taking a majestic flight path.

But that bat has been silent for quite a while. CarGo hasn’t hit a home run since April 11 in San Francisco and he hasn’t had a multiple-hit game since April 9 when he had three hits against the White Sox at Coors Field. His average was .389 at that point; it sits at .247 as he heads into Saturday night’s game against the Dodgers.

Charlie Blackmon has 28 hits from the leadoff spot, and no team has more than 28 hits combined from the leadoff spot. Blackmon leads the majors with a .411 average and has swatted four home runs, two on Monday night.

Yet Blackmon, a left-handed hitter, is not in the lineup for Tuesday night’s game vs. the Giants. What gives, Walt Weiss? He says it’s all about Giants left-handed pitcher Madison Bumgarner.

Tyler Chatwood was set for the No. 3 spot in the Rockies rotation coming out of spring. But then, in his final Cactus League outing, he pulled a hammy trying for a triple.

Enter Lyles, who pitched well in spring, but was headed for Triple-A Colorado Springs to start the season. Instead, he slotted in Chatwood’s spot — and he won both his starts, at Miami and in Denver. He’s 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA.

Rockies right-hander Jhoulys Chacin will likely make four rehab starts before he rejoins the big-league club.(Associated Press file photo)

The red-white-and-blue bunting is up. The Rooftop is already jammed with pre-game party animals. The Rockies have taken BP. The home opener at Coors Field is 1 1/2 hours away. It’s one of the best days of the year for the casual baseball fan. And admit it, seamheads, it’s more than just one of 162 for you, too.

OK, now for some basic baseball business.

Although lefty reliever Boone Logan is eligible to come off the disabled list on Saturday, he won’t join the team until Sunday at the earliest. When he gets called up, sending an outfielder down to Triple-A Colorado Springs is a strong possibility.

“It’s highly doubtful Boone would be ready for (Saturday),” trainer Keith Dugger said Friday. “It will be a baseball decision when they bring him back, but I’d say he’s definitely made good progress.”

Dugger also said that right-handed starter Jhoulys Chacin has had “absolutely no pain” as he works his way back from a strained shoulder at the Rockies’ spring training complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. He’s thrown 35 pitches in a live bullpen against hitters, throwing all of his pitches with no issues. His next step is to throw 45 pitches in a simulated game.

Charlie Blackmon, left, of the Colorado Rockies scores a third inning run during a spring training game at Peoria Stadium on March 5, 2014 in Peoria, Arizona. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

MIAMI — Spring training stats matter when they matter. When it comes to center field, manager Walt Weiss hedged his bet all spring, saying that last season carried more weight and that March wasn’t a tryout camp.

So it is that Charlie Blackmon is starting and leading off on Monday night against Miami’s Jose Fernandez.

Blackmon batted .236 in the spring, but his strong second half a year ago never left Weiss’ memory as he constructed an odd roster. The Rockies are carrying six outfielders, giving Weiss plenty of options and a challenge to find playing time for reserves Corey Dickerson, Drew Stubbs and Brandon Barnes.

Owner Dick Monfort explained the decision in a letter sent to season-ticket holders on Sunday night.

Todd Helton learned a thing or two in his 17 seasons in major-league baseball. Among them: How to take advantage of a sleepy baserunner after he dives back to first base. See the modified hidden ball trick in the video below.

Add this to the reasons why the Rockies should do-away with the ceremonial first-pitch next season and instead adopt a ceremonial “First Helton.” (Or “First Out” maybe? Let’s keep working on the name.)

Rockies starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin is congratulated by teammates at the top of the dugout after finishing the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants Wednesday night at Coors Field. (Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)

Greetings from Coors Field where I just witnessed one of the more entertaining games — and postgames — I’ve experienced in quite a while.

I really thought Jhoulys Chacin was going to pitch a no-hitter. I really did. He was that good, and even the single that Brandon Crawford lined to center field with two outs in the seventh wasn’t hit that hard.

Newspaper deadlines, being what they are, even in the digital age, didn’t allow me to get a lot of this in my game story. So here are some late-night quotes, notes and details from the Rockies’ 5-4 victory over the Giants Wednesday night at Coors Field:

PHILADELPHIA — The Rockies are committed to keeping Wilin Rosario at catcher, encouraged by his hard work and slight improvement defensively. However, they want his bat in the lineup more, so Rosario will see time at first base. With Todd Helton expected to retire at season’s end, Rosario could steal a few starts there, not unlike how the Giants employ reigning National League MVP Buster Posey.

Rosario takes groundballs at first base during BP. He spent time Wednesday working on getting to the bag and presenting a target for the infielders. Rosario owns a career-best 11-game hitting streak, hitting 17-for-47 during this stretch with three home runs and 14 RBIs.

Jordan Pacheco is starting at catcher for the first time since he was recalled from Triple-A.

Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson slides into third for a triple during the eighth inning Tuesday night against the Padres. (Justin Edmonds, Getty Images)

Rockies rookie outfielder Corey Dickerson finds himself starting in left field and batting third Wednesday afternoon against the Padres. Obviously, he’s no substitute for injured all-star Carlos Gonzalez, but in his short time in the big leagues, Dickerson is making a solid first impression.

Since being called back up on July 27, Dickerson is hitting .366 (15-for-44) with two doubles, two homers and a triple. His triple — a rare broken-bat drive to right field Tuesday night — illustrated Dickerson’s strength. Part of the bat ended up by first base, while the ball landed near the base of the all.

“I think he’s a guy, when he gets consistent at-bats at this level, he’s going to be a very productive player,” manager Walt Weiss said. “He can hit and he always will hit.”

Carlos Gonzalez poses with the Venezuelan team before batting practice on Monday (Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post).

ATLANTA — Carlos Gonzalez didn’t hesitate to act when told the story. A Venezuelan 19-under team from his hometown of Maracaibo was in South Carolina playing in a tournament. They wanted to see CarGo. And he was happy to make that happen.

The Rockies’ two-time all-star bused them to Turner Field on Monday and provided every player with two pairs of cleats, one plastic, one metal. He also gave the coaches new turf shoes.

Rockies manager manager Walt Weiss, center, says the Rockies have to become dominant again at Coors Field. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Manager Walt Weiss is not one for hyperbole, so you would never expect him to call the Rockies’ 10-game home series a “do-or-die” stretch of games.

That said, it’s clear the Weiss understands the importance of this homestand, which begins Friday night against the Cubs. After a three-game series against Chicago, the Rockies host the Marlins for four and the Brewers for three. Those teams are a combined 59-games under .500.

At his core, Rockies right-hander Juan Nicasio, who blanked the Dodgers for seven innings Friday night, is a power pitcher. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

LOS ANGELES — A few late-night thoughts and notes while I’m waiting for the Friday night fireworks crowd to leave Dodger Stadium:

* Juan Nicasio is, at his core, a power pitcher. As manager Walt Weiss said after the Rockies beat the Dodgers 3-0, Nicasio was trying to be too fine, trying to cut corners and paint the black. What Nicasio does best is throw a powerful fastball down in the zone. When he does that, his slider and changeup don’t have to be perfect.

Said Nicasio: “Today, I worked on the command of my fastball. I threw it inside, moved it outside and kept it down. When I was down (in Triple-A) Colorado Springs, I tried to go after hitters. It worked for me, and that’s what I tried to do tonight.”

Nicasio picked up his first win since May 19, a span of seven big-league starts. His seven innings pitched were his most since the threw seven innings of one-run ball against the Dodgers on May 12, 2012, also at Dodger Stadium.

A “19” is shown on the field of the Arizona Diamondbacks in memory of 19 firefighters killed fighting the Yarnell Hill wildfire last week. (Troy Renck, The Denver Post)

PHOENIX — Troy Tulowitzki took batting practice on the field Friday. He knows what he wants to see to return to the Rockies.

“I have to have my game swing. I can’t baby it,” Tulowitzki said.

If Tulo’s broken fifth right rib responds to increased activity Friday and Saturday, there’s a chance he will begin a rehab assignment on Monday and even rejoin the Rockies for the Dodgers series that begins Thursday in Los Angeles.

That’s the quiet target, but it’s getting a bit ahead of the process until he sees how his body responds. His body language and words reflected his confidence. Barring a setback, it would be no surprise to see him back during the Dodgers series, leaving him in position to appear in the all-star game, where he could start given his large lead in the voting at his position.

Colorado Rockies star shortstop Troy Tulowitkzi says his broken rib is healing nicely, but he’s itching to get back on the field. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Troy Tulowitzki, the ultimate baseball rat, desperately wants to be back on the diamond. While that’s still a few weeks away, the Rockies’ all-star shortstop said Thursday that his broken rib is healing nicely. Right now, he’s limited to running and stretching and playing some light catch, but he hopes to start swinging a bat soon.

“It still hurts, but not nearly as much,” Tulo said Thursday before the Rockies hosted the Mets in a makeup game. “It feels more like a bruise now. I feel a lot better and it’s good to see some progress.”

Tulo admits that it was tough to stay home and watch the Rockies go 2-7 on their recent road trip, but he said he’s dealing with this injury better than he’s dealt with past injuries.

“There is no doubt it’s tough to take,” he said. “But I think with all of the injuries I’ve had, I’ve always tried to make myself better.”

WASHINGTON — With the offense needing a lift and Dexter Fowler’s finger not healing as he had hoped, the Rockies will add prospect Corey Dickerson to the roster on Friday.

Dickerson, 24, was at the field Friday afternoon, and will be activated. To clear a spot on the 40-man and 20-man rosters, the Rockies will designate reliever Logan Kensing for assignment.

The Rockies have been unable to use Fowler, but he won’t be going to the disabled list.

Fowler was unable to grip the bat, leaving him out of the lineup. X-Rays on his right ring finger and knuckle were negative. He hopes to play Friday. Dickerson provides insurance. But he’s not a center fielder.

Rockies right fielder Michael Cuddyer hits an RBI-double in the fourth inning of last Thursday’s game against the Padres. Cuddyer is out with a strained rib cage, but the Rockies are hopeful he can play again on Tuesday. (Dustin Bradford, Getty Images)

Manager Walt Weiss’s pregame chat with the media Sunday morning was mostly an update on the health of the Rockies. Weiss acknowledged that his club “a little banged up right now.”

Here’s run down of players’ various injuries:

Right fielder/first baseman Michael Cuddyer — The injury to his left rib cage is healing, but he is not in the lineup for Sunday’s game vs. the Padres. He would only be used in an emergency. Weiss hopes that after Monday’s off day, Cuddyer will be available to play Tuesday against the Nationals.

“We still feel fairly confident that he won’t have to DL him,” Weiss said.

There is no correlation between the rib injury and the strained oblique that wiped out much of Cuddyer’s 2012 season.

Rockies left-hander Jeff Francis is slated to come off the disabled list and start Saturday’s game for the Rockies. (Denver Post file photo)

The move won’t be officially announced until Saturday, but lefty Jeff Francis will very likely come off the disabled list and start Saturday’s game against the Padres. He’ll replace young, hard-throwing right-hander Tyler Chatwood, who’ll miss the start because of a sore triceps.

Chatwood — along with Jorge De La Rosa, who starts Friday night’s game — has been one of the Rockies’ best pitchers. Chatwood’s spot in the rotation is set when he returns, which could be as soon as next Friday. Meanwhile, veteran right-hander and three-time Roy Oswalt is tuning up in Double-A, and will likely join the big-league club within the next 10 days.

That means the 32-year Francis could very well be odd man out. The veteran fully understands the situation, but he’s not counting himself out yet.

“I think I can help this team, and I think I can do a lot of things,” he said. “But I know that the reality of baseball is that if you don’t do them enough, then your time runs out. I have another chance here and I intend to make the most of it.”

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.